The effect of the sense of sin and of mercy

Psalm 130 takes up another subject, of the place of which we
have found clear traces before the sins of Israel as between the
people and God. It is not, however, now merely legal
distress. Confidence in Jehovah characterises it, though accompanied
by depth of distress and humiliation. This is the effect of the
connection of the sense of sin and of mercy in the soul. Mere legal
distress is more selfish in its terror, though admirable for
destroying confidence in self and throwing on mercy; conviction with
the sense of mercy is more the sense of wronging the God of
goodness. It is a deeper work after all. Here there is forgiveness
with Jehovah that He might be feared, and the soul waits on Jehovah,
though it has cried out of the depths. There is desire, grace being
looked to, as well as waiting for Jehovah, verse 6. The groundwork
is stated in verse 7, while verse 8 shows confidence in the full
results. Verse 4 is the upright acknowledgment of where the need
came from, grace meeting that need; verse 7, that which can be
reckoned on in Jehovah; verse 8, the full counting on it for Israel,
that is, redemption, not from troubles, but from iniquities.